I’m not surprised about the display itself. It’s a known quantity since it’s basically the iMac 5K sans the Mac. However, I expected more from the webcam. Hopefully that’s fixed by a software update. Mine doesn’t arrive until April 7-14 (I ordered the nano-texture display with VESA mount), so Apple has a few weeks to get that software update out before my return window closes.
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Apple Studio Display Reviews: 'A Confounding Miss'
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It's better in the sense that it is a true retina 1:1 display at 5k, whereas most 4k displays are not.
4K res on a Mac is 5K downscaled and so is “lossy” in that respect. Also, 5K allows editing of 4K display in native resolution while having room for the editing app’s controls, etc.
For Windows, 5K is less of a benefit. Hence only LG and briefly Dell sold true 5K displays.
Disappointing to say the least. Tim Apple, forever the snake oil salesman. 
It's too expensive for what it is. Or compared to the previous 5K iMac 27. That's for sure.
However the entire monitor market is a mess. There are no good options at this pixel density. There was the LG 5K which is also Apple's creation. And there is a Dell 27" 5K which I own (and it's a fickle thing).
All other monitors are low resolution, crappy color accuracy but have 400Hz for the latez leet gaming whatever. Even if you are willing to pay premium prices, there is nothing out there. It's insane...
However the entire monitor market is a mess. There are no good options at this pixel density. There was the LG 5K which is also Apple's creation. And there is a Dell 27" 5K which I own (and it's a fickle thing).
All other monitors are low resolution, crappy color accuracy but have 400Hz for the latez leet gaming whatever. Even if you are willing to pay premium prices, there is nothing out there. It's insane...
I was really surprised by the webcam. Seems like the kind of thing Apple wouldn't screw up - hopefully it's a software fix.
A P3 rated 4K display is still pushing $1000+
I wonder if Apple is doing video compression to get 5k video and still use bandwidth for the other devices built in. I'd like to think there are optimization issues, not just weak hardware.
LTT had a pretty cool Alienware wide screen HDR gaming monitor yesterday. It's slightly cheaper and got pretty good reviews from them.
Exactly. If it’s the same camera as the iPad Pro and new iPad Air, it should perform much better. My display doesn’t arrive for a few more weeks (I got the nano-texture VESA version).
Typical D-bag influencers spinning their BS. It's actually detoured more than anything. I loathe them so much.
I thought it was just me that thought that way.
other tech reviews: yeah it’s alright
iJustine: OMG ITS AMAZING IM SO BLOWN AWAY RIGHT NOW!!!! ITS SO PERFECT!! LOOK AT MY RIDICULOUS FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
- Larger display area.
- Higher resolution.
- Higher peak-brightness (600 nits vs. 500)
- Better webcam (once they fix it)
- Better audio (both speakers and Spatial Audio capability)
Resolution is a pretty important spec for a display. The most important spec, really. And it isn't just a question of 4K vs 5K...macOS doesn't scale properly to a 27" 4K display and looks terrible as a result.
And the rest may be "meh" for you, but is very important for many, many others.
Well that is disappointing. Not really to the actual display portion, I went into my purchase expecting a slightly improved 5k iMac display, which is exactly what this is. But the camera being so terrible...they harped on it for so long during the presentation. Hopefully it is just an ISP bug and Apple didn't put some trash bin sensor in their $1600 monitor, part of the reason I went for it was that I wouldn't have to pay $200 for a nicer external webcam.
Having to choose your stand at purchase time is a huge miss.
Really interesting play here for Apple. Truly doesn't line up with their product line. Brand new hardware launch, and it is years behind the rest of the product line. No Pro-Motion, no HDR, seems like Apple really did get greedy with this one. You really should be able to expect top of the line for this price range on a monitor. Interesting play by Apple...
Kind of rubs me the wrong way honestly.
Kind of rubs me the wrong way honestly.
$1,600 for 60hz refresh rate and you can't even change the stand? what a colossal waste of money
Apple's Studio Display features a built-in non-removable power cable on the back that, even when attempted to be removed with force, does not come out, despite the Pro Display XDR featuring a removable power cable.
So $2000 for. Monitor that you could go out and pay $499 for from LG that does everything you want it to from Apple for $2000? Do you like getting ripped off? Ohhhhh and it comes with HDR
I fully agree with you. What seems to be missed by all those complaining that Apple should have incorporated ProMotion and HDR into this monitor is that it would have had to be priced well above $3,000. Why do I say this? Such a panel would technically outperform the Pro Display XDR, and so if these were priced at or below $3,000, you could buy two for less than the cost of a single 32-inch XDR display--a no brainer! This would instantly obsolete the XDR.
In addition, if Apple had rolled out the Mac Studio with only a $3,000+ display option, this would undoubtedly depress sales of the Studio. Apple needs a 5K display at a sub-$2K price point, and this is it. If we are to believe analyst Ross Young, a higher-spec 27-in ProMotion panel is coming later this year, presumably to be introduced alongside the new Apple Silicon Mac Pro.
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They could have waited till April to give up this April fools joke.
First impressions of the Apple Studio Display have now been shared by select media outlets and YouTubers, providing a closer look at Apple's latest standalone display. Reviewers praised some aspects such as the display's built-in speaker and microphone setup, while others felt that "the Studio Display in its current state is a confounding miss."
Priced starting at $1,599, the Studio Display is Apple's first new external display since the 2019 Pro Display XDR. It features a 27-inch 5K Retina display with up to 600 nits brightness, P3 Wide color, True Tone, one Thunderbolt port, three USB-C ports, a built-in A13 Bionic chip, a three-microphone array, a 12-megapixel f/2.4 Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage, and a six-speaker sound system with support for Spatial Audio.
An angle-adjustable stand is included in the price of the display, but for an extra $400, there is a tilt and height-adjustable stand, and a VESA mount adapter option that lets the display be used in portrait or landscape orientation. There is also a $300 upgrade for nano-texture glass that minimizes glare in workspaces with bright lighting.
Design
Reviewers generally admired the slim, all-aluminum design of the Studio Display. Gizmodo's Phillip Tracy highlighted the Studio Display's passive cooling design elements and criticized the display's rubbber feet:
Display Quality
CNBC's Kif Leswing felt that the display quality was adequate but unimpressive:
The Verge's Nilay Patel criticized the Studio Display's lack of HDR and ProMotion:
Tracy was similarly disappointed at the lack of true blacks due to the Studio Display's LCD panel:
The specifications of the display were consistently flagged as disappointments by reviewers given the Studio Display's price point.
Microphones and Speakers
Patel praised the Studio Display's built-in microphone and speaker setup:
TechRadar's Matt Hanson praised the microphones, but found the Studio Display's support for Spatial Audio less impressive:
Tracy likewise lauded the speaker setup, saying that "the sound quality is better than anything I've ever heard out of a monitor." TechCrunch's Brian Heater said that while the microphone setup is marketed as "studio quality," for users "planning to do much more than just webconferencing, I'd recommend plugging an external mic into one of the aforementioned ports."
Camera
A major area of concern among reviewers was the built-in 12-megapixel camera. Patel said that "the Studio Display's headline webcam feature works so badly that it's virtually unusable."
Other reviewers generally agreed with the disappointing results from the built-in webcam, with Heater commenting:
Tracy similarly found the camera to be "fine" but "noisy." Apple told The Verge and TechCrunch that improvements to the Studio Display's camera would be coming in a software update, but it is unclear exactly what aspect of the reviewers' complaints this update pertains to or when it will be released.
Stands and Nano-Texture Option
Patel noted that the "$300 nanotexture option smudges easily and is hard to clean," while Tracy criticized the Studio Display's stand options:
Hanson said that "it's these kinds of 'hidden' extra costs that try a lot of peoples' patience when it comes to Apple."
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Article Link: Apple Studio Display Reviews: 'A Confounding Miss'
$1600 plus tax for a monitor without HDR?? Or Pro Motion? Did they think it would eat away their Pro display sales?
I have a $700 Samsung monitor that’s 32” 4K, HDR , Spacial audio and had usb display connection built in. And it does 144 hertz…..
I could care less about a FaceTime camera or the aluminum. It also sticks to my Wood and glass tables with ease.
This is an early April fools joke isn’t it?
Not surprised it is a jack of all trades master of none. When I saw the feature set I had a feeling it would be average at best at all the features.
You are paying for the camera, the glued on CPU, the speakers etc. so what suffers is everything especially the screen.
Apple could have just focused on just being a good monitor.
I will stick to companies that just focus on providing a good monitor.
Which $499 5K 27 “ LG are you referring to? Definitely will cancel and order that one.